Celebrating 10 years of Mini-Medical School: Bringing research to the community

Ten years ago, the Mini-Medical School series began as a unique effort to connect the newest medical research with the public. Organized by the Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, the series combines research done in the lab with real-life clinical insight to help people better understand how chronic diseases affect the body.

"Mini-Medical School is a flagship event in the Synder Institute's community engagement activities. Focusing on topical medical issues, it is a privilege to interact with the Calgary community about the biology and impact of a variety of chronic inflammatory and infectious diseases. It is an opportunity to highlight the institute's talented researchers and how they are advancing knowledge of various maladies and contributing to the development of better treatments and, ultimately, cures," says Dr. Derek McKay, PhD, director of the Snyder Institute.

This lecture series welcomes everyone — high school students, retirees, and anyone in between — offering clear explanations of complex health topics. Each session brings the latest discoveries from the Snyder Institute’s labs to life, making the science behind them engaging and easy to grasp.

“My husband and I started to come to the Snyder Institute's Mini-Medical School in early 2018,” says Mariana Cioraneanu, one of the attendees. “We were very impressed with the presenters and the innovative approach of the presentation. From that time, we came regularly to the lectures, missing them only when we travelled. The time we attended, we learned a lot about chronic conditions and many health issues. For us, two retired community members, the Mini-Medical School has been a reliable source of knowledge in health matters and the future of medicine.”  

Held monthly from November to May, these sessions feature researchers and physicians discussing topics like immunotherapy, mental health, asthma, multiple sclerosis, superbugs and the microbiome. Whether you’re curious about breakthroughs in medical science or looking to better understand your own health, the Mini-Medical School series offers an open, welcoming space to learn and connect. When the pandemic started in 2020, the series was rolled out in a hybrid format, which continues today.  People can join in person or online. The hybrid offering has opened the door to a wider crowd, bringing in students, researchers, donors, government officials and community members from all over Canada.
 

A strong foundation

For many, the lectures on conditions like Lyme disease and cystic fibrosis have also resonated on a personal level. Audience feedback describes meaningful conversations that have started as a result of these sessions and a desire for more in-depth exploration. This exploration includes the emotional aspects of living with chronic illnesses.

Dr. Merilee Brockway, PhD, a registered nurse and assistant professor in the Faculty of Nursing and the Cumming School of Medicine, shares her experience as a speaker at Mini-Med, "Mini-Medical School is a great opportunity for researchers to showcase the important work that we are doing at the University of Calgary to prevent chronic diseases. Presenting our work to a public audience can really challenge researchers to re-think how we describe our studies and the reasons why we do them, so that we can present them in a way that is understandable to everyone. The question-and-answer panel provides an excellent opportunity to understand how our presentation is interpreted, and also what questions the public has that are most pressing about our work."

Looking ahead to its 10th season, the Mini-Medical School will explore a range of new topics, such as breast milk-mediated protection, gastrointestinal infections in newborns, liver diseases, prion diseases (regenerative brain disorders) and the health effects of wildfire smoke.

By making medical knowledge more accessible, the Snyder Institute hopes to help the public gain a better understanding and empower individuals to make informed choices and work towards a healthier future. Check out the Mini-Medical School page for more information on the lecture series or to catch up on the past episodes.